About Us

The Bonacci Method

A multidisciplinary technique developed by Marc Bonacci, D.C., P.M.M.T.P.

At Arizona Pain & Posture, I often solve conditions that have troubled the patient for years. My approach and technique have a troubleshooting aspect. I use a sequence of events that combines orthopedic tests and hard science with intuition. The intuitive part is needed to get past failure, false negatives and non-responsive patients — the part I call work.

It was out of moments when nothing was working that the technique was created. In my first few years, on the hard cases I tried everything I had been taught and yet would not get a good response with treatment. I consider a “good response” to be noticeably decreasing pain or increasing motion. So I began cautiously to try some things I had not been taught — my own ideas gleaned from my education in physical medicine modalities and therapeutic procedures (PMMTP). I began to think outside-the-box and saw that the human body was not straightforward and each body and injury was different — and therefore each person required a unique approach.

Through the years I taught myself how to find the true source of the pain, and how to gently but effectively maneuver the muscles and soft tissue of the body in a way that allows the body to heal and gain strength in that area, which naturally relieves the pain. I use manual therapy re-positioning strokes, holds and compartment decompressions. I rearrange the spatial orientation of muscles, joints, nerves, discs and fascia. Sometimes a very small change can make a very big difference, therefore several small changes can solve the problem completely.

My personal rule is every visit should have a positive outcome or the patient doesn’t leave. I am persistent to the point of self-annoyance, yet I have faith that one of my moves or holds or directions or tugs on a nerve will finally give — that one of my techniques or combinations of techniques will work. After enough time trusting my moves and working endlessly with patients, something always gives, usually the strain on the nerve or joint. Immediately the patient feels better and I know I did something right, different and new. This is how I pinpoint specific moves unique to my method, and how it continues to evolve every time a new patient steps into my office. I am always learning.

In scientific theory, and in my personal beliefs, we are not meant to live in pain. Our bodies are made to heal. We are healing machines. Given the right atmosphere we can heal more extraordinarily than most of us believe or have experienced. In many cases we hear stories of people in dire circumstances having healing experiences and see it as miraculous. Our bodies are a miracle — given a healing environment internally, they can regenerate. I help provide that environment by removing blockages in muscles, soft tissue and joints, allowing the nerves to flow properly again and the body to move properly again. Movement is life. Movement is healing.

Every patient is different, but in order to live a pain-free life, one truth remains for all: The human body must be strong enough to hold proper posture and allow for proper ergonomics during daily activities. A common reason for chronic pain is weakness in that area. Every patient must commit to at-home exercise to gain strength. I work with my patients to discover the best exercise for each condition.

If manual therapy work combined with exercise is not solving the problem, I send my patients to have prolotherapy or platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) sessions. Both natural techniques are performed by NMDs, DOs and MDs and have great success in strengthening weak joints that have become deteriorated over time.

Feldenkrais Method

The Feldenkrais Method is a gentle and effective technique created by European scientist and martial artist Moshe Feldenkrais in the 1950s, after a repetitive knee injury left him facing surgery.

Instead, he developed an incredible high-end technique used today by everyone from professional athletes and dancers toregular folks with good old fashioned neck and back pain. In fact, it can help for every type of physical pain you can imagine.

The technique repairs connections between the motor cortex and the body by retraining movement patterns. The method is based on the principles of neurology, physics and physiology. Feldenkrais eliminates the bad habits in movement that often create pain, replacing them with new, good habits.

At our office, Jeanne Hills, licensed physical therapist, teaches the gentle Feldenkrais movements, which are then practiced by the patient at home. As the brain and nervous system are trained to move properly, new muscle memory is created, posture is improved, and pain disappears.

Jeanne’s motto is, “Don’t move into more pain!” Physical Therapy has a general reputation as being painful — not at our office. Jeanne takes a meditative approach, allowing muscle tension to release and movement to increase gradually. The movements should be slow and easy, staying within the patient’s pain constraints.

Feldenkrais improves posture, coordination, flexibility and athletic movement. Patients ofany age can benefit from this method. We have incredible success with pain patients using the Feldenkrais Method.

Note: Most insurance plans cover physical therapy. If you have had trouble getting chiropractic coverage in the past, think about coming in to see Jeanne for physical therapy instead. Call your insurance company to see if your covered.